Research

Maternal Anemia and its Correlation with the Oxidative Stress in Cord Blood

Monika Dubey, Anuradha Khanna and Ruchi Sinha
World Journal of Pathology 2013, 2:7

Abstract

Background

To find out the effect of maternal anemia on oxidative stress in neonate and to correlate oxidative stress with severity of maternal anemia and birth weight.

Methods

A prospective cohort study in anemic pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic and emergency services in S.S Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.

The oxidative stress was determined by measuring the levels of the antioxidant enzymes viz. Glutathione Peroxidase, Catalase and Superoxide dismutase in the cord blood.

Results

The level of antioxidant enzymes Superoxide dismutase, Catalase and Glutathione Peroxidase in cord blood showed a decreasing trend with the increase in the severity of maternal anemia. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.001) for all these enzymes in relation to maternal Hemoglobin subgroups. The levels were also significantly correlated with birth weights.

Conclusion

The antioxidant enzymatic capacity of new born decreases with severity of maternal anemia which may lead to various free radicals mediated fetal injuries.

Keywords

Oxidative Stress, Anemia, Glutathine Peroxidase (GSH-Px), Catalase, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)

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